Documents containing the personal details of private ambulance staff have gone missing during the takeover of Kent’s non-emergency patient transport services, it has been revealed.

This morning more than 100 employees of private ambulance operator NSL were told their Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) forms and photocopies of identity documents were missing.

As part of their takeover, new contract holder G4S were in the process of carrying out DBS checks (previously known as CRB checks) on all their new staff to check criminal records and other vital information.

According to Simon Bolton from Unison the forms and photocopies of identity documents were collected in the first two weeks in April by G4S staff at the Larkfield depot near Maidstone and the Margate Depot. The box of paper was then sent to Stockton where G4S have a secure facility.

He said that in early June staff made enquires with the disclosure and barring service to ask about the checks and were told they had no application form or details. NSL management were informed and on June 7, G4S admitted the data had been lost but staff were not told until last Thursday.

Mr Bolton said: “G4S need to come clean and tell staff all they know now and publish the investigation report, they are a very large organisation and in the future people using the patient transport service in Kent need to have confidence in them, this will only happen if they are open and transparent.

"What has gone missing is an identity fraudster’s dream come true and I hope the wrong hands don’t have the information that has been lost" - Simon Bolton, Unison

“Things will go wrong sometimes but it’s how they react and deal with it that people will judge them on and at the moment the question is open, what has gone missing is an identity fraudster’s dream come true and I hope the wrong hands don’t have the information that has been lost.”

NSL has had the contract for free, non-emergency transport for people who are unable to get to and from hospital any other way since 2013.

G4S, one of the world’s largest private employers, was awarded the £90m contract to take patients to hospitals in December. G4S is due to take over in July from NSL which withdrew its bid to renew its contract.

G4S Managing Director for Logistics, David Straughan said: “We have been on site to talk to staff those concerned but we believe the box of information has been left at a secure location.

“Until we have full access in two weeks’ time, we have taken the precautionary measure of writing to staff involved.”

The contracts include transporting Medway and Kent patients to and from London hospitals and transporting eligible Bexley and Bromley patients to and from Kent and Medway hospitals.

A spokesman for NSL said personal information and documents were provided to G4S by staff in April as part of the transfer process.

He added: “The documents were collected by G4S and sent for processing at the G4S Screening and Vetting Department in Stockton. None of the documentation was left or returned to any NSL site.

“We were informed earlier this week that personal information and documentation for some employees had been lost whilst in G4S’s possession and they have accepted full responsibility.

“NSL’s first priority is our staff and we are working with G4S and Kent CCG to make sure they receive the right support.”

Frank Macklin, regional organiser for the GMB union, said: “The GMB have today attended a number of meetings that have been held between NSL and G4S management and NSL staff. At those meetings the staff were informed about a possible loss of personal details.

“G4S have apologised unreservedly and advised staff that they intend to protect any staff member that may suffer a detriment as a result of this breach 100%.

“The GMB acknowledges G4S’ statement and actions since this has come to light and will be monitoring the situation very very closely and will also be taking legal advice on behalf of our members.”